Improvement in car-couplings



I. GUBRAN.

' Ear-Couplings.

Patented July 14, 1874.

Fig. 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES GURRAN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152.941, dated July 14,1874; application filed August 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES OURRAN, of Binghamton, New York, have inventeda Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a platform of a railroad-car having myimprovements affixed. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same with the lowerportion of the draw-bar removed, and Fig. 3 is a detached view of thesliding block employed to hold the couplinglink in proper posit-ion toenter the opposing draw-head.

In the drawings, A represents the platform or end of the car. B is thedraw-bar, provided with a flaring-mouthed draw-head, B, as is plainlyshown in Fig. 2. G is a sliding block, arranged within the draw head andbar B B. Block G is chambered upon the under side, so

as to form flanges or lips c c, for the purpose of receiving and holdingone end of the link, as will be explained. This block is also slotted,as at 0 (see Fig. 3,) to receive the drawpin. D D are levers pivoted tothe lower side of the platform at D, Fig. 2. The inner ends of theselevers are slotted and engage with a stud, c rising from block 0 througha slot, 1), in the draw-bar B, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Thus,itwill be seen that by means of levers D D, the block 0 can be thrustforward into the mouth of the draw-head, or can be withdrawn toward therear of the same. E is a rock-shaft mounted on the front of the platformby means of straps E or other suitable bearings. F is a spring pressingupon shaft E, and serving as a friction-stop to retain the shaft in suchposition as it is placed by means of the lever G at either end. Iusually prcfer to square or flatten that part of the shaft upon whichthe spring F rests, as at c, Fig. 1. H is an arm secured to rock-shaft Eat a point a little one side of the center. Arm H is slotted bothvertically and horizontally, as shown in Fig. 1. I is the draw-pin, andI is a link pivoted to the pin, and also connected with the arm H bymeans of a pivot, 'i, which is confined in the horizontal slot. Inpractice, I would make one or both of the levers G to extend to the topof the car, so that a brakeman can operate it from the roof.

In operating my improvement, I thrust the block G forward, and place thecouplin g-link un der the lips 0, so as to prevent the outer end of thelink from dropping too low to enter the opposing draw-head, and then, bymeans of lever Gr, let the pin I down through said link. The two carsare now brought together, and when the link has entered the oppositedrawhead a sufficient distance it is secured by the' its actuatingdevices in case the draw-bar should be torn from the platform, carryingwith it the coupling-pin I.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combinationwith the rock-shaft E, 1evers G, arm H, pin I, and link I, thefrictionstop F, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the rock-shaft E, pin I, and link I, the arm H,slotted to receive the link-pivot i, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the draw-bar l3, havin g a narrow throat and amouth with inclined sides, with the sliding block 0 and levers I) D,substantially as set forth.

JAMES CURRAN.

Witnesses E. W. BRIGHAM, H. O. MERRIOK.

